Calibrachoa plant named ‘Sunbel Kopachipi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Sunbel Kopachipi’, characterized by its compact and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; long flowering period; and intense red purple-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Sunbel Kopachipi’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Sunbel Kopachipi’.

The new Calibrachoa is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of thebreeding program is to develop new uniform Calibrachoa cultivars withattractive and unique flower coloration.

The new Calibrachoa originated from a cross-pollination conducted by theInventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in April, 2003 of a proprietaryselection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number C58, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofCalibrachoa sp. identified as code number GF1, not patented, as themale, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Sunbel Kopachipi was discoveredand selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa by vegetative cuttings in acontrolled environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since September,2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Sunbel Kopachipi has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature,daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Sunbel Kopachipi’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunbel Kopachipi’ as a newand distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa:

-   -   1. Compact and mounding plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Long flowering period.    -   6. Intense red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants ofthe female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are not as broad as plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants        of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily fromplants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of themale parent selection have dull red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of thecultivar Sunbelochipi, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,355. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plantsof the new Calibrachoa and the cultivar Sunbelochipi differed in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more compact and mounding        than plants of the cultivar Sunbelochipi.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had shorter internodes than        plants of the cultivar Sunbelochipi.    -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more freely branching than        plants of the cultivar Sunbelochipi.    -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more freely flowering than        plants of the cultivar Sunbelochipi.    -   5. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had larger flowers than plants        of the cultivar Sunbelochipi.    -   6. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the cultivar Sunbelochipi        differed in flower color as plants of the cultivar Sunbelochipi        had light red purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Calibrachoa, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Calibrachoa.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunbel Kopachipi’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view oftypical flowers of ‘Sunbel Kopachipi’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, undercommercial practice during the late spring and summer in apolyethylene-covered greenhouse. During the production of the plants,day temperatures averaged 23° C. and night temperatures averaged 13° C.Plants had been growing for about four months when the photographs anddescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. cultivar Sunbel Kopachipi.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number C58, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number GF1, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About one week at 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three weeks at            20° C. to 25° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous, fleshy; light brown in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact and mounding plant habit;            mounding. Freely branching with lateral branches potentially            forming at every node; pinching enhances lateral branch            development. Vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 14 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 31 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 17 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 1.5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 6 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright to outward.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Close to 144B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 3.3 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Apex.—Broadly acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface:            Close to 137C; venation, close to 145A. Developing and fully            expanded foliage, lower surface: Close to 143C; venation,            close to 145A.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 2.7 mm. Diameter: About 1.7 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent.            Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers            arising from upper leaf axils. Freely flowering habit with            usually about two open flowers per lateral branch. Flowers            face upright or outwardly. Flowers not fragrant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa            initiate and develop flowers about three to four weeks after            planting. Long flowering period; flowering commences            naturally during the spring and plants flower continuously            throughout the summer until late autumn in Japan.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten            days on the plant. Flowers not persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Flower length (depth).—About 3.1 cm.        -   Throat diameter.—About 7.4 mm.        -   Tube length.—About 1.8 cm.        -   Tube diameter.—About 1.9 mm.        -   Flower bud.—Shape: Cylindrical. Length: About 2 cm.            Diameter: About 5.5 mm. Color: Close to N77B.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and            opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:            About 1.6 cm. Petal width: About 1.6 cm. Petal shape:            Spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded with truncate tendencies.            Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Throat texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal, when            opening, upper surface: Close to 61B; venation, close to            N187A. Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to 60D;            venation, 200A. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to            61B; towards the throat, close to 60A; venation, close to            N187A; color becoming closer to 61C with development. Petal,            fully opened, lower surface: Close to 60D; venation, close            to 200A. Throat: Close to 12A; venation, close to 166A.            Tube: Close to 10B; venation, close to 187A.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five            sepals fused at the base per flower. Sepal length: About 7.7            mm to 12.6 mm. Sepal width: About 3.6 mm. Sepal shape:            Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Broadly acute. Sepal margin: Entire.            Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color,            immature and mature, upper surface: Close to 138A. Color,            immature and mature, lower surface: Close to 138A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 0.9 mm.            Angle: Upright to outward. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Five per            flower. Stamen length: About 1 cm to 1.3 cm. Anther shape:            Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 1.5 mm by 1.8 mm. Anther            color: Close to 3A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:            Close to 8C. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil            length: About 1.2 cm. Style color: Close to 145C. Stigma            shape: Transversely ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to            145A. Ovary color: Close to 144B. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit            development have not been observed on plants of the new            Calibrachoa.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from about 5° C. to about 35° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not    been observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to    Calibrachoa.

1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘Sunbel Kopachipi’ asillustrated and described.